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Tarver, Dawson in Line For Unification Fight
(By Rick Brown - The Ledger)
Monday, April 14, 2008
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AP PHOTO/MIKE CARLSON
Antonio Tarver, center, celebrates after the announcement of his
unanimous decision victory against Clinton Woods in the IBF/IBO
light heavyweight championship boxing match on Saturday, April 12,
2008, in Tampa, Fla. |
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AP PHOTO/MIKE CARLSON
Chad Dawson, center, of New Have, Conn., celebrates with members
of his training team after retaining the WBC Light Heavyweight
Championship in a boxing match against Glen Johnson on Saturday,
April 12, 2008, in Tampa, Fla. |
Promoter Gary Shaw did something
early Sunday morning he normally doesn't do following light
heavyweight victories by Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson. At the press
conference following the successful night of boxing at the St. Pete
Times Forum in Tampa, Shaw called both Tarver and Dawson together for
a photo opportunity to promote a possible light heavyweight
unification match between the two fighters.
"Tarver said what he wanted to do," Shaw said. "Chad had made it clear
that he wants Tarver. I don't think it's going to be a tough time
getting these two guys in the ring to find out who's the best and
greatest light heavyweight in the ring going out there right now."
Dawson, 25, is the WBC light heavyweight champion and is considered
the future of the light heavyweight division. He retained his title
with a unanimous decision over Glen Johnson on Saturday, though the
decision was unpopular with the estimated 14,000 people at Forum.
Tarver, 39, who was the IBO champion, picked up the IBF championship
as well after destroying Clinton Woods in a unanimous decision.
Both fighters said they want to fight each other.
"I'm excited and ready for it," Dawson said. "He can talk all the
trash he wants but when that night comes it'll be me and him like he
said. Soon as the contract gets signed, it's on."
Tarver reiterated a statement he has said since the beginning of his
training camp with Woods.
"It's all about the belts," he said. "I want all the belt holders.
"Chad Dawson right now is easy pickin's," Tarver said. "He's not the
fighter that he was before the fight tonight….He's a wounded duck."
Both champions had questions to answer leading up to this fight.
For Dawson, it was the competition he faced prior to Johnson and if he
had what it took to be in and survive a battle.
For Tarver, it was if age had finally caught up to him.
Both went a ways toward answering those questions Saturday.
Dawson withstood massive punishment by Johnson, who nearly knocked the
champion out in the 10th with a right cross. But Dawson survived the
10th and the fight.
Tarver looked tentative early against the pressure of Woods but picked
up his tempo later in the bout and won handily on all three judges'
scorecards.
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